EFL 2022: Heathmont jumps into fifth on the Division 2 ladder

The Jets’ hopes of a finals berth remain alive in the EFL’s Division 2 after they ‘picked Mulgrave apart’, as a young defender produced a standout performance.

It’s an “elimination final every week”, Heathmont senior coach Nick Rutley says.

And the Jets’ top-five hopes remain alive following a 36-point win over Mulgrave in the Eastern league’s Division 2 on Saturday.

The 9.17 (71) to 5.5 (35) result leapfrogged Heathmont from seventh to fifth spot on the ladder, while Mulgrave slid from sixth to eighth – a game outside the top five.

The Jets held much of the momentum after quarter-time, turning an 11-point buffer into 21 and 22 at the main and final breaks.

Rutley credited the win to a collective effort of both the players and assistant coaches, adhering to a plan he believes “picked Mulgrave apart”.

Heathmont senior coach Nick Rutley. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“Our assistant coaches over the last month-and-a-half have really nailed the brief – they’ve been looking at opposition really well,” Rutley said.

“We picked Mulgrave apart pretty well – we know they’ve got a pretty big discrepancy between first and second halves, they start really well, similar to us – a young, up-and-coming list.

“Our message was you need to be within reach or in front at half-time, which they were … just the way the boys stuck to the game-plan, they nailed it again.”

The coach also commended young defender Harry Isaacs for a standout performance on star Mulgrave veteran Adam Booth.

The emerging talent has been reaping the rewards of a strong pre-season this year to become one of the Jets’ most integral players.

Heathmont’s Harry Isaacs was best afield on Saturday. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“We’re really proud of Harry in regards to not just the footballer but the person he’s becoming,” Rutley said.

“Credit to Harry between last pre-season and this pre-season, he worked really hard on his body size and shape and his work off-field in regards to fitness and it’s really showing this year.

“Because of injuries and team balance, he’s been a bit of a ‘Mr Fix-It’ – I’ve flicked him forward, I’ve flicked him mid and back, but I think back is his best position.

“He continues to get the best forwards week in, week out, and not only does he beat them one-on-one, but he also rebounds and gives us some attacking options with ball in hand.”

The victory sets up a monster clash with fourth-placed Boronia this weekend, with the Jets looking to exact revenge for the 88-point belting in the pair’s last meeting in Round 5.

But it’s set to be a vastly different make-up this time around according to Rutley, with a host of underdone players taking the field in the previous encounter.

Boronia has won four of its past six matches and is coming off a stunning upset of East Burwood, but the Heathmont coach is confident his men are up to the task.

“It’s a tough one because you don’t want to take anything away from the opposition … but it’s a bit hard to judge us on that time of the season as we just weren’t us,” Rutley said of his side’s Round 5 result.

“Even though we still have some pretty key people out, we’ve been getting our better footy back on track.”